American Riviera Bancorp Announces Results for the Second Quarter of 2023

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#BankonBetter--American Riviera Bancorp (“Company”) (OTCQX: ARBV), holding company of American Riviera Bank (“Bank”), announced today unaudited net income of $5.7 million ($0.98 per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2023, consistent with the $5.7 million ($1.00 per share) earned in the same reporting period in the previous year. Unaudited net income was $2.7 million ($0.47 per share) for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $2.6 million ($0.45 per share) earned in the same reporting period in the previous year.

Jeff DeVine, President and CEO of the Company and the Bank, stated, “American Riviera Bank reported stable earnings, continued loan growth, and increased capital ratios despite the elevated interest rate environment. Our clients appreciate the Bank’s relationship business model of providing friendly service to depositors and customized loans on the Central Coast of California as we have for the past 17 years. We experienced stable deposit levels this quarter, and the Bank has paid more interest to our local depositors while maintaining profitability year-over-year.”

Second Quarter Highlights

• The Bank has the highest “Super Premier” rating for financial performance from the Findley Reports and has maintained a “5 Star - Superior” rating from Bauer Financial as of March 31, 2023.
• The Bank was rated “Outstanding” by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2023 for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act.
• Return on average assets for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, was 0.85%, and return on average equity was 11.84%.
• Total loans reached $945.4 million at June 30, 2023, an increase of $20.6 million or 2.2% from the prior quarter-end, and $84.6 million or 9.8% from June 30, 2022. The Bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio at June 30, 2023, was 87.3%.
• Non-interest-bearing demand deposits totaled $442.1 million at June 30, 2023, a decrease of $18.6 million or 4.0% from the prior quarter-end, and a decrease of $45.1 million or 9.3% from June 30, 2022. Non-interest-bearing demand deposits at June 30, 2023 represent 40.8% of total deposits, an increase from 38.8% one year ago.
• Interest-bearing deposits totaled $640.4 million at June 30, 2023, an increase of $1.4 million or 0.2% from the prior quarter-end, and a decrease of $127.7 million or 16.6% from June 30, 2022. The Federal Reserve’s actions over the last year to rapidly increase interest rates have caused a shift in interest-bearing depositor behavior as some clients have decided to reinvest their excess cash in non-FDIC insured, external investment products.
• As of July 24, 2023, total deposits have increased $16.5 million or 1.5% subsequent to the most recent June 30, 2023 quarter-end and are at approximately the same level as reported at March 31, 2023.
• During the second quarter of 2023, the Bank opened 802 new deposit accounts, compared to 784 in the last quarter, and 585 in the same quarter last year.
• All of the Bank’s deposits are local, retail deposits. At June 30, 2023, the Bank had no wholesale brokered deposits.
• The Bank maintains a diversified deposit base with no significant industry concentrations and does not engage in cryptocurrency transactions or service cryptocurrency related companies.
• Interest income in the second quarter of 2023 increased by $2.6 million from the same quarter last year and was offset by a $2.6 million increase in interest expense. Interest income for the first six months of 2023 increased by $5.3 million from the same period last year and was offset by a $4.0 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest expense is due to higher rates paid on deposits and an increase in borrowed funds.
• Total cost of funding sources increased to 1.02% for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 0.59% in the prior quarter, and 0.12% for the same quarter in the prior year. Overall funding costs for the Company have increased due to Federal Reserve policy but remain modest compared to industry averages based on our relationship banking focus.
• On-balance sheet liquidity continues to be substantial with $246.4 million of cash, due from banks, and available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities market value at June 30, 2023.
• Access to available sources of liquidity including fed funds lines of credit with correspondent banks, unused secured borrowing capacity with the Federal Home Loan Bank, and unused secured borrowing capacity with the Federal Reserve totaled $310.2 million at June 30, 2023, an increase from $211.7 million at March 31, 2023.
• Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”) was 1.23% of total loans at June 30, 2023, compared with 1.24% at March 31, 2023, and 1.20% at June 30, 2022. Provision for credit losses for the second quarter of 2023 was $0.2 million, compared to zero last quarter, and $0.9 million for the same quarter last year.
• The Bank maintained strong credit quality with no other real estate owned, no loans 90 days or more past due, and only $2.8 million or 0.30% of total loans on non-accrual status, which are well supported by collateral and reserves.
• Tangible book value per share increased by 1.3% to $15.22 at June 30, 2023, up from $15.03 at March 31, 2023, due to a profitable second quarter of 2023.
• All Bank and Company capital ratios increased in the second quarter of 2023. The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios were all above “well-capitalized” standards. The Company’s tangible common equity ratio has increased to 6.86% at June 30, 2023, from 6.68% at March 31, 2023, and 5.78% at June 30, 2022.

Second Quarter Earnings

For the second quarter of 2023, unaudited net income pre-tax, pre-provision, pre-PPP fees (a non-GAAP measure) was $3.9 million, compared to $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2023 and second quarter of 2022. For the second quarter of 2023, unaudited net income was $2.7 million, compared to $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2023, and $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2022.

The Bank continues to grow interest and fees on loans sequentially over the last four quarters from $9.4 million in the second quarter of 2022 to $11.8 million in the second quarter of 2023, representing a $2.4 million or 26.2% increase. However, the cost of funding has also increased sequentially from the historically low levels that existed prior to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate increase policy. Interest expense on deposits has increased approximately nine-fold from $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2022 to $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2023.

At the same time, excess cash and due from banks has moved back to a more normalized level as the Federal Reserve has tightened economic conditions, resulting in a decline in interest on cash and due from which was at elevated levels for most of 2022. Interest on cash and due from peaked at $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to a more normalized level of $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2023 and $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Non-Interest Income and Expense

Non-interest income was $1.0 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $0.5 million for the first quarter of 2023, and $0.7 million for the same quarter last year. Variances between the quarters relate primarily to SBA loan sale premiums, mortgage broker fees, loan swap fees, and loan prepayment fees. Loan swap fees totaled $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2023 as borrowers continue to request fixed-rate loans and the Company can choose to diversify its interest-rate risk profile by offering floating rate loan swaps.

Non-interest expense was $8.0 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2023, and $7.2 million for the same quarter last year. The increase in non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter last year is primarily attributable to occupancy expenses, investment in technology projects, and timing of advertising and annual sponsorships. Occupancy expenses were temporarily elevated in the first half of 2023 as the Company was in the process of consolidating Santa Barbara office space which was recently completed, allowing for the termination of two leases, and is expected to decrease occupancy expenses by approximately $70 thousand for the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2023. Additionally, accrual of non-recurring expense for technology upgrades was $80 thousand per month in the second quarter of 2023 and is expected to continue at this level only through October 2023.

Loans and Asset Quality

Total loans reached $945.4 million at June 30, 2023, an increase of $20.6 million or 2.2% from the prior quarter-end, and $84.6 million or 9.8% from June 30, 2022.

The Bank adopted the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) accounting standard as of January 1, 2023, and recorded a $1.3 million pre-tax reduction to retained earnings upon adoption, including $0.5 million of additional reserve for unfunded loans recorded in other liabilities. The ACL increased $0.2 million to $11.6 million at June 30, 2023, with a resulting coverage ratio of 1.23% of total loans, as compared to $11.5 million or 1.24% at March 31, 2023, and $10.4 million or 1.20% at June 30, 2022.

Loan charge-offs totaled zero and loan recoveries totaled $3 thousand for the second quarter of 2023. As of June 30, 2023, non-accrual loans totaled $2.8 million, down $0.2 million compared to the previous quarter. $2.1 million of the non-accrual total at June 30, 2023, is comprised of one loan which is real estate secured at a 27% loan-to-value based upon a recent appraisal and is paying full principal and interest payments monthly. Credit quality remains strong.

Deposits & Borrowings

Total deposits were $1.1 billion at June 30, 2023, representing a decrease of $17.2 million or 1.6% from March 31, 2023, and a decrease of $172.8 million or 13.8% since June 30, 2022. As a result of the current rate environment, the reduction in deposit balances is primarily due to some clients deciding to reinvest their excess cash in non-FDIC insured, external investment products. The weighted average cost of deposits for the second quarter of 2023 was 0.73%, compared to 0.45% for the previous quarter, and 0.07% for the same quarter last year. Non-interest-bearing demand deposits represent 40.8% of total deposits at June 30, 2023, a decrease from 41.9% at the prior quarter-end, and an increase from 38.8% at June 30, 2022.

At June 30, 2023, the Bank had $60.0 million of short-term, 30 days or less, FHLB advances and another $10.0 million of long-term FHLB advances outstanding. At June 30, 2023, the Company also had $10.0 million drawn on a correspondent bank line of credit at a favorable rate of 3.85% and $18.0 million of subordinated notes outstanding at a favorable rate of 3.75%. The weighted average cost on all borrowings for the quarter was 4.93%, resulting in $1.0 million in interest expense. The $98.0 million level of wholesale funding was consistent at the first and second quarter of 2023.

The Bank’s liquidity position remained strong with a primary liquidity ratio (cash and cash equivalents, deposits held in other banks and unpledged AFS securities as a percentage of total assets) of 19.2% at June 30, 2023, compared to 22.1% at March 31, 2023.

As of June 30, 2023, the Bank had no brokered deposits and no borrowings outstanding from the Federal Reserve’s discount window or its new Bank Term Funding Program. Available and unused, secured borrowing capacity with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (“FHLB”) totaled $167.6 million as of June 30, 2023. The Bank also had $100.0 million of unused fed funds lines of credit with correspondent banks at June 30, 2023. Available contingent funding sources remain robust.

Overall uninsured deposits, excluding public agency deposits that are collateralized, are conservatively estimated to be $428.8 million, or 39.6% of total deposit balances as of June 30, 2023. The actual level of uninsured deposits is lower than the percentage stated above, as our knowledgeable bankers have helped clients obtain more than $250 thousand of FDIC insurance with vesting structures such as joint accounts, payable upon death accounts, and revocable trust accounts with multiple beneficiaries. In addition, the Bank can offer up to $50 million of FDIC pass-through insurance to clients via the IntraFi network Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) or Certificate of Deposit Account Registry System (“CDARS”) products.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity was $92.8 million at June 30, 2023, a $1.2 million or 1.4% increase since March 31, 2023, and an increase of $9.3 million or 11.1% over the prior year. The tax adjusted unrealized loss on securities, which is a component of equity (accumulated other comprehensive income or “AOCI”), increased slightly from $21.1 million at the end of the first quarter of 2023 to $23.4 million at the end of the second quarter of 2023, resulting in a reduction of $2.3 million of shareholders’ equity. The Bank fully expects to receive all principal when the investments mature.

Company Profile

American Riviera Bancorp (OTCQX: ARBV) is a registered bank holding company headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. American Riviera Bank, the 100% owned subsidiary of American Riviera Bancorp, is a full-service community bank focused on serving the lending and deposit needs of businesses and consumers on the Central Coast of California. The state-chartered bank opened for business on July 18, 2006, with the support of local shareholders. Full-service branches are located in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles. The Bank provides commercial business, commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction, and Small Business Administration lending services as well as convenient online and mobile technology. For thirteen consecutive years, the Bank has been recognized for strong financial performance by the Findley Reports and has received the highest “Super Premier” rating from Findley every year since 2016. The Bank was rated “Outstanding” by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2023 for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act.

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events concerning expectations for growth and market forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, effects of interest rate changes, ability to control costs and expenses, impact of consolidation in the banking industry, financial policies of the US government, and general economic conditions.

American Riviera Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Balance Sheets (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
			Jun 30,				Jun 30,				One Year				One Year
				2023				2022			$ Change				% Change
Assets
	Cash & Due From Banks		$	30,428			$	212,675			$	(182,247	)		-86	%
	Available-for-sale securities			215,951				250,132				(34,181	)		-14	%
	Held-to-maturity securities, net			41,295				-				41,295			100	%
	Loans			945,389				860,762				84,627			10	%
	Allowance For Credit Losses			(11,638	)			(10,367	)			(1,271	)		12	%
	Net Loans			933,751				850,395				83,356			10	%
	Premise & Equipment			14,842				9,491				5,351			56	%
	Goodwill and Other Intangibles			4,936				5,025				(89	)		-2	%
	Other Assets			43,851				35,470				8,381			24	%
Total Assets			$	1,285,054			$	1,363,188			$	(78,134	)		-6	%
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity
	Non-interest-bearing Deposits		$	442,078			$	487,187			$	(45,109	)		-9	%
	Interest-bearing Deposits			640,359				768,029				(127,670	)		-17	%
	Total Deposits			1,082,437				1,255,216				(172,779	)		-14	%
	Borrowed Funds			98,000				18,000				80,000			444	%
	Other Liabilities			11,819				6,460				5,359			83	%
	Total Liabilities			1,192,256				1,279,676				(87,420	)		-7	%
	Common Stock			66,836				56,897				9,939			17	%
	Retained Earnings			49,324				45,922				3,402			7	%
	Other Capital			(23,362	)			(19,307	)			(4,055	)		21	%
	Total Shareholders' Equity			92,798				83,512				9,286			11	%
Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity			$	1,285,054			$	1,363,188			$	(78,134	)		-6	%

American Riviera Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Balance Sheets (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
			June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
				2023				2023				2022				2022				2022
Assets
	Cash & Due From Banks		$	30,428			$	64,252			$	61,801			$	178,882			$	212,675
	Available-for-sale securities			215,951				223,547				223,281				222,910				250,132
	Held-to-maturity securities			41,295				41,274				41,293				41,241				-
	Loans			945,389				924,761				907,685				886,208				860,762
	Allowance for Credit Losses (a)			(11,638	)			(11,468	)			(10,626	)			(10,500	)			(10,367	)
	Net Loans			933,751				913,293				897,059				875,708				850,395
	Premise & Equipment			14,842				14,098				12,347				9,649				9,491
	Goodwill and Other Intangibles			4,936				4,942				4,947				4,984				5,025
	Other Assets			43,851				40,588				40,931				38,033				35,470
Total Assets			$	1,285,054			$	1,301,994			$	1,281,659			$	1,371,407			$	1,363,188
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity
	Non-interest-bearing Deposits		$	442,078			$	460,667			$	478,519			$	519,796			$	487,187
	Interest-bearing Deposits			640,359				638,986				685,008				744,052				768,029
	Total Deposits			1,082,437				1,099,653				1,163,527				1,263,848				1,255,216
	Borrowed Funds			98,000				98,000				18,000				18,000				18,000
	Other Liabilities			11,819				12,785				13,036				7,425				6,460
	Total Liabilities			1,192,256				1,210,438				1,194,563				1,289,273				1,279,676
	Common Stock			66,836				67,411				66,346				57,123				56,897
	Retained Earnings			49,324				46,251				44,672				49,722				45,922
	Other Capital			(23,362	)			(21,075	)			(23,922	)			(24,711	)			(19,307	)
	Total Shareholders' Equity			92,798				91,556				87,096				82,134				83,512
Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity			$	1,285,054			$	1,301,994			$	1,281,659			$	1,371,407			$	1,363,188

Note:
	(a) CECL was adopted using the modified retrospective method. Results of reporting periods beginning after 1/1/23 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.

American Riviera Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Statement of Income (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
			Quarter Ended											Six Months Ended
			June 30,				Jun 30,							Jun 30,				Jun 30,
				2023				2022			Change				2023				2022			Change
Interest Income
	Interest and Fees on Loans		$	11,794			$	9,347			26	%		$	22,994			$	17,954			28	%
	Fees on PPP Loans			-				209			-100	%			1				1,122			-100	%
	Interest on Securities			1,792				1,116			61	%			3,525				1,957			80	%
	Interest on Due From Banks			265				539			-51	%			541				681			-21	%
	Total Interest Income			13,851				11,211			24	%			27,061				21,714			25	%
Interest Expense
	Interest Expense on Deposits			1,965				216			808	%			3,239				426			660	%
	Interest Expense on Borrowings			1,006				166			506	%			1,427				233			512	%
	Total Interest Expense			2,971				382			677	%			4,666				659			608	%
Net Interest Income				10,880				10,829			0	%			22,395				21,055			6	%
	Provision for Credit Losses			163				916			-82	%			163				916			-82	%
Net Interest Income After Provision				10,717				9,913			8	%			22,232				20,139			10	%
Non-Interest Income
	Service Charges, Commissions and Fees			764				672			14	%			1,227				1,342			-9	%
	Other Non-Interest Income			222				20			1012	%			289				514			-44	%
	Total Non-Interest Income			987				692			43	%			1,516				1,856			-18	%
Non-Interest Expense
	Salaries and Employee Benefits			4,588				4,326			6	%			9,529				8,636			10	%
	Occupancy and Equipment			868				766			13	%			1,773				1,521			17	%
	Other Non-Interest Expense			2,508				2,119			18	%			4,643				4,014			16	%
	Total Non-Interest Expense			7,964				7,211			10	%			15,946				14,171			13	%
Net Income Before Provision for Taxes				3,740				3,394			10	%			7,803				7,824			0	%
Provision for Taxes				1,052				818			29	%			2,143				2,093			2	%
Net Income			$	2,687			$	2,576			4	%		$	5,660			$	5,731			-1	%
	Shares Outstanding			5,772,012				5,690,710			1	%			5,772,012				5,690,710			1	%
	Earnings Per Share - Basic		$	0.47			$	0.45			3	%		$	0.98			$	1.01			-3	%
	Return on Average Assets			0.85	%			0.75	%		13	%			0.92	%			0.95	%		-3	%
	Return on Average Equity			11.84	%			11.40	%		4	%			13.00	%			13.41	%		-3	%
	Net Interest Margin			3.51	%			3.26	%		8	%			3.64	%			3.30	%		10	%
Note> Share data for prior periods has been adjusted to reflect stock dividends

American Riviera Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Five Quarter Statements of Income (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
			Three Months Ended
			June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
				2023				2023				2022				2022				2022
Interest Income
	Interest and Fees on Loans		$	11,794			$	11,200			$	11,081			$	10,160			$	9,347
	Fees on PPP Loans			-				1				-				199				209
	Interest on Securities			1,792				1,733				1,716				1,539				1,116
	Interest on Due From Banks			265				276				1,323				1,046				539
	Total Interest Income			13,851				13,210				14,120				12,944				11,211
Interest Expense
	Interest Expense on Deposits			1,965				1,274				669				266				216
	Interest Expense on Borrowings			1,006				421				169				169				166
	Total Interest Expense			2,971				1,695				838				435				382
Net Interest Income				10,880				11,515				13,282				12,509				10,829
	Provision for Credit Losses			163				-				109				122				916
Net Interest Income After Provision				10,717				11,515				13,173				12,387				9,913
Non-Interest Income
	Service Charges, Commissions and Fees			764				463				522				602				672
	Other Non-Interest Income			222				66				157				210				20
	Total Non-Interest Income			987				529				679				812				692
Non-Interest Expense
	Salaries and Employee Benefits			4,588				4,942				4,948				4,717				4,326
	Occupancy and Equipment			868				905				856				777				766
	Other Non-Interest Expense			2,508				2,134				2,561				2,260				2,119
	Total Non-Interest Expense			7,964				7,981				8,365				7,754				7,211
Net Income Before Provision for Taxes				3,740				4,063				5,487				5,446				3,394
Provision for Taxes				1,052				1,090				1,524				1,645				818
Net Income			$	2,687			$	2,973			$	3,963			$	3,800			$	2,576
	Shares Outstanding			5,772,012				5,763,854				5,692,161				5,693,820				5,690,710
	Earnings Per Share - Basic		$	0.47			$	0.52			$	0.70			$	0.67			$	0.45
	Net Income pre-tax, pre-provision, pre-PPP fees (Non-GAAP)		$	3,902			$	4,062			$	5,596			$	5,369			$	4,101
Note> Share data for prior periods has been adjusted to reflect stock dividends

American Riviera Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
			At or for the Three Months Ended
			June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
				2023				2023				2022				2022				2022
Income and performance ratios:
	Net Income		$	2,687			$	2,973			$	3,963			$	3,800			$	2,576
	Earnings per share - basic (f)			0.47				0.52				0.70				0.67				0.45
	Return on average assets			0.85	%			0.98	%			1.14	%			1.08	%			0.75	%
	Return on average equity			11.84	%			14.22	%			19.12	%			17.26	%			11.40	%
	Cost of Funds			1.02	%			0.59	%			0.26	%			0.16	%			0.12	%
	Cost of Deposits			0.73	%			0.45	%			0.21	%			0.08	%			0.07	%
	Net interest margin			3.51	%			3.76	%			3.94	%			3.69	%			3.26	%
	Efficiency ratio (b)			66.97	%			65.52	%			60.21	%			58.58	%			62.89	%
Asset quality:
	Allowance for credit losses		$	11,638			$	11,468			$	10,626			$	10,500			$	10,367
	Nonperforming assets			2,818				2,955				3,066				6,337				3,505
	Allowance for credit losses / total loans and leases			1.23	%			1.24	%			1.17	%			1.18	%			1.20	%
	Net charge-offs / average loans and leases (annualized)			0.00	%			0.00	%			0.00	%			-0.04	%			-0.03	%
	Texas ratio (a)			2.83	%			3.01	%			3.30	%			6.07	%			3.94	%
Capital ratios for American Riviera Bank (c):
	Tier 1 risk-based capital			12.02	%			11.96	%			11.85	%			11.68	%			11.85	%
	Total risk-based capital			13.17	%			13.12	%			12.89	%			12.73	%			12.94	%
	Tier 1 leverage ratio			9.95	%			9.67	%			8.83	%			8.48	%			8.29	%
Capital ratios for American Riviera Bancorp (c):
	Tier 1 risk-based capital			10.39	%			10.32	%			10.22	%			10.05	%			10.15	%
	Total risk-based capital			11.54	%			11.48	%			11.26	%			11.10	%			11.24	%
	Tier 1 leverage ratio			8.60	%			8.32	%			7.62	%			7.29	%			7.11	%
Equity and share related (f):
	Common equity		$	92,798			$	91,556			$	87,096			$	82,134			$	83,512
	Book value per share			16.08				15.88				15.30				14.43				14.68
	Tangible book value per share			15.22				15.03				14.43				13.55				13.79
	Tangible book value per share, excluding AOCI (d)			19.27				18.68				18.63				17.89				17.18
	Stock closing price per share			15.20				16.81				17.00				17.15				17.90
	Number of shares issued and outstanding (e)			5,772.01				5,763.85				5,692.16				5,693.82				5,690.71

Contacts

American Riviera Bank
www.americanriviera.bank
805-965-5942
Michelle Martinich

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